Contributing to the popularity of outdoor soccer was the increase in participation by girls aged 5-8 years (3% to 5%) and 12-14 years (5% to 8%) from 2003 to 2012. Though participation by girls aged 9-11 years also increased (from 5% in 2003 to 7% in 2012) there was not enough evidence to suggest that this difference was statistically significant. The increasing popularity of dancing was also reflected in increases in participation by girls and boys in all age groups between 2003 and 2012. The only significant difference, however, was for girls and boys aged 5-8 years with participation increasing from 27% to 32% for girls and from 1% to 4% for boys.

3.2 Children participating in top 3 organised sports (including dancing)(a)(b), By age and sex - 2003 to 2012

NUMBER ('000)

PARTICIPATION RATE (%)

2003

2006

2009

2012

2003

2006

2009

2012

5-8 YEARS

MALES

Swimming/Diving

126.9

126.2

134.5

141.5

23.7

23.8

24.6

24.5

Dancing

*7.3

12.9

17.0

24.6

*1.4

2.4

3.1

4.3

Soccer (outdoor)

118.7

106.6

112.4

126.9

22.2

20.1

20.6

22.0

FEMALES

Swimming/Diving

117.7

128.2

145.2

134.0

23.2

25.4

28.0

24.5

Dancing

137.1

136.7

161.6

175.0

27.0

27.1

31.1

32.0

Soccer (outdoor)

13.7

22.9

26.8

28.3

2.7

4.5

5.2

5.2

PERSONS

Swimming/Diving

244.6

254.3

279.7

275.5

23.5

24.6

26.2

24.5

Dancing

144.4

149.6

178.6

199.6

13.8

14.5

16.8

17.8

Soccer (outdoor)

132.3

129.6

139.2

155.2

12.7

12.5

13.1

13.8

9-11 YEARS

MALES

Swimming/Diving

64.8

64.7

74.2

65.1

15.7

15.6

17.7

15.4

Dancing

9.5

12.4

13.5

*19.3

2.3

3.0

3.2

*4.6

Soccer (outdoor)

103.7

88.2

88.6

101.9

25.1

21.3

21.1

24.2

FEMALES

Swimming/Diving

75.2

75.1

79.5

84.2

19.2

19.1

19.9

20.9

Dancing

93.6

90.3

106.0

111.0

23.9

23.0

26.5

27.6

Soccer (outdoor)

21.2

29.6

23.7

28.7

5.4

7.5

5.9

7.1

PERSONS

Swimming/Diving

139.9

139.8

153.7

149.3

17.4

17.3

18.8

18.1

Dancing

103.1

102.7

119.5

130.3

12.8

12.7

14.6

15.8

Soccer (outdoor)

124.9

117.8

112.3

130.7

15.5

14.6

13.7

15.9

12-14 YEARS

MALES

Swimming/Diving

21.9

34.8

31.4

28.5

5.4

8.3

7.3

6.6

Dancing

5.3

7.2

11.4

6.8

1.3

1.7

2.6

1.6

Soccer (outdoor)

78.7

73.6

76.8

80.9

19.3

17.5

17.9

18.8

FEMALES

Swimming/Diving

32.7

33.6

38.1

38.7

8.4

8.4

9.3

9.5

Dancing

76.4

73.1

80.8

81.4

19.6

18.2

19.8

19.9

Soccer (outdoor)

20.0

30.1

32.1

30.8

5.1

7.5

7.9

7.6

PERSONS

Swimming/Diving

54.6

68.4

69.5

67.3

6.8

8.3

8.3

8.0

Dancing

81.7

80.3

92.2

88.2

10.2

9.8

11.0

10.5

Soccer (outdoor)

98.7

103.7

108.9

111.7

12.4

12.6

13.0

13.3

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution

(a) Children aged 5-14 years who participated in organised sport and/or dancing outside of school hours during the 12 months prior to interview in April of the survey year.

(b) The top 3 organised sports for children aged 5-14 years.

Source: ABS data available on request, Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia, April 2012.

Since 2003, swimming and diving has remained the most popular sport for children aged 5-8 years. For older children (aged 12-14 years), outdoor soccer, netball and dancing were the most popular sports in 2012, with participation rates of 13% for outdoor soccer and 11% for both netball and dancing.

The participation rate of children aged 5-8 years in dancing increased between 2003 and 2012 (from 14% to 18%).

Though the participation rate for children aged 9-11 years increased for martial arts (from 5% in 2003 to 7% in 2012) there was not enough evidence to suggest that this difference was statistically significant. Participation in tennis by children aged 9-11 years, however, decreased from 12% to 8%.

Between 2003 and 2012, the participation of children aged 12-14 years decreased for tennis (9% to 7%).

3.3 Children participating in top 10 organised sports and/or dancing in 2012(a), By age - Persons - 2000 to 2012

NUMBER ('000)

PARTICIPATION RATE (%)

2003

2006

2009

2012

2003

2006

2009

2012

5-8 YEARS

Swimming/Diving

244.6

254.3

279.7

275.5

23.5

24.6

26.2

24.5

Dancing

144.4

149.6

178.6

199.6

13.8

14.5

16.8

17.8

Soccer (outdoor)

132.3

129.6

139.2

155.2

12.7

12.5

13.1

13.8

Tennis (indoor and outdoor)

66.0

59.8

69.5

84.3

6.3

5.8

6.5

7.5

Australian Rules football

71.3

69.8

77.8

83.5

6.8

6.7

7.3

7.4

Gymnastics(b)

. .

. .

. .

75.3

. .

. .

. .

6.7

Martial arts

51.7

49.3

68.0

66.5

5.0

4.8

6.4

5.9

Basketball (indoor and outdoor)

48.0

36.3

43.3

48.2

4.6

3.5

4.1

4.3

Netball (indoor and outdoor)

46.0

44.7

39.1

47.0

4.4

4.3

3.7

4.2

Cricket (outdoor)

28.5

36.2

37.8

37.7

2.7

3.5

3.6

3.4

9-11 YEARS

Swimming/Diving

139.9

139.8

153.7

149.3

17.4

17.3

18.8

18.1

Soccer (outdoor)

124.9

117.8

112.3

130.7

15.5

14.6

13.7

15.9

Dancing

103.1

102.7

119.5

130.3

12.8

12.7

14.6

15.8

Basketball (indoor and outdoor)

75.8

64.3

65.8

87.6

9.4

7.9

8.0

10.6

Netball (indoor and outdoor)

94.6

99.5

96.5

85.0

11.7

12.3

11.8

10.3

Australian Rules football

59.6

73.5

76.7

78.0

7.4

9.1

9.4

9.5

Tennis (indoor and outdoor)

94.0

71.9

75.8

65.9

11.7

8.9

9.2

8.0

Martial arts

41.7

39.3

57.4

55.5

5.2

4.9

7.0

6.7

Cricket (outdoor)

48.1

47.9

52.4

44.2

6.0

5.9

6.4

5.4

Rugby league

29.0

38.8

33.9

40.5

3.6

4.8

4.1

4.9

12-14 YEARS

Soccer (outdoor)

98.7

103.7

108.9

111.7

12.4

12.6

13.0

13.3

Netball (indoor and outdoor)

100.6

81.6

92.9

90.7

12.6

9.9

11.1

10.8

Dancing

81.7

80.3

92.2

88.2

10.2

9.8

11.0

10.5

Basketball (indoor and outdoor)

81.2

75.8

92.8

84.4

10.2

9.2

11.1

10.1

Swimming/Diving

54.6

68.4

69.5

67.3

6.8

8.3

8.3

8.0

Australian Rules football

62.7

57.1

80.5

65.1

7.8

6.9

9.6

7.8

Tennis (indoor and outdoor)

68.5

63.5

69.5

55.0

8.6

7.7

8.3

6.6

Cricket (outdoor)

57.0

59.3

52.3

48.9

7.1

7.2

6.2

5.8

Martial arts

36.3

31.8

29.2

39.1

4.5

3.9

3.5

4.7

Rugby league

29.9

36.8

40.7

37.6

3.7

4.5

4.9

4.5

. . not applicable

(a) Children aged 5-14 years who participated in organised sport and/or dancing outside of school hours during the 12 months prior to interview in April of the survey year.

(b) In 2009, callisthenics was included in the Gymnastics category. In 2012, callisthenics was excluded from organised sport altogether, and cheerleading was included in the Gymnastics category. Therefore the data are not comparable.

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